The Connecticut Sun clinched the top overall spot in the balanced Eastern Conference.
In fact, the Sun did not lose a single season series with a conference foe, sweeping
Indiana, defeating Washington and Detroit 3-1 each, and splitting two wins apiece
with the Liberty. The balanced Sun also sent three players to represent the WNBA
squad in "WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Game at Radio City." The Mystics
are perhaps the league's biggest surprise. After finishing with only nine wins
last season, Washington things around in just one season and qualified for the
postseason by winning seven of their final nine games.

2004 Regular Season: Connecticut
Sun 3 - Washington Mystics 1

Some fast facts about the Sun-Mystics
first-round matchup:

Sales

Once again, All-Star forward Nykesha
Sales had an outstanding season, leading the Sun with 15.2 ppg, and
leading the WNBA is steals with 2.19 per game. Mystics rookie sensation Alana
Beard may have started the season on a rough note, but she heated up
in the second half, leading the Mystics in scoring in 13 of the last 15
games, thus proving that she will be a force in the league for years to
come. Despite losing Olympian Shannon Johnson and being
picked to finish last by most "experts," the Sun won the East
thanks to winning five of their last six games. Mystics forward Chamique
Holdsclaw led Washington in scoring in the first three games against
the Sun this season, but sat out the end of the season and will miss the
playoffs due to an undisclosed medical issue.